Bessie Coleman: Queen of the Skies

Rebel Girls

Kids & Family, Stories For Kids, Education For Kids

4.5 • 7.2K Ratings

🗓️ 13 February 2024

⏱️ 18 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Once upon a time, there was a girl who could fly a plane upside down, sideways, and in loop-de-loops. Her name was Bessie Coleman, and she was the very first Black female pilot. She figured out how to make old, rickety planes do amazing things. Bessie pushed the limits of the sky and inspired aviators for years to come. This podcast is a production of Rebel Girls and is based on the book series Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls. This story was produced by Camille Stennis. Sound design and mixing by Mumble Media. This story was written by Jestine Ware and narrated by Doreen Oliver. Haley Dapkus was our Associate Producer. Our Executive Producer was Katie Sprenger. Original theme music was composed and performed by Elettra Bargiacchi. A big thanks to the whole Rebel Girls team who makes this show possible! For more, visit rebelgirls.com. Until next time, stay REBEL!

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey Rables!
0:05.0	Rables! Do you ever wonder what it feels like to fly a plane?
0:11.0	What about to fly one upside down or sideways? We're about to meet a
0:16.8	rebel who did all those things. Bessie Coleman, the world's first black female pilot.
0:24.6	I'll see you at the end to hear about what you liked about Bessie's story.
0:30.2	Okay, on with the show.
0:35.0	Once upon a time, there was a girl who had her eyes on the sky.
0:47.0	Her name was Bessie Coleman. It's the early 1920s and Bessie has arrived at the Codron Brothers School of Aviation in
0:58.4	La Kottois, France with the spring in her step and a flutter in her belly.
1:05.0	Today is her first time taking the plane up, up into the sky.
1:20.0	She stands before the rickety looking plain made of wood, wire, steel, aluminum, cloth, and pressed cardboard.
1:27.0	Plains were very different back then.
1:34.0	It doesn't have brakes or a steering wheel.
1:38.0	It looks like it'll never make it off the ground.
1:42.0	She takes her time checking over the plane. Are all the
1:47.7	wires connected properly? Check. Does the engine make a healthy roar without sputtering?
1:57.0	Check.
1:59.0	Are the tires of the
2:05.0	cloth wings are smooth and free of rips
2:09.0	and the propellers whiz so fast
2:12.0	when she gets them spinning that Bessie can barely see the
2:16.9	blades.
	...

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